Renee Gill Pratt's retrial gets underway in federal court

Proceedings are underway in the courtroom of U.S. District Court Judge Ivan Lemelle, as prosecutors attempt for a second time to convince a jury that former New Orleans City Councilwoman Renee Gill Pratt should go to jail for helping the Jefferson family loot taxpayer-financed nonprofits.

Ted Jackson / The Times-PicayuneRenee Gill Pratt enters federal court Monday for jury selection in her second trial for conspiring with members of former U.S. Rep. William Jefferson's family to redirect more than $1 million from sham charities supported with taxpayer money. Pratt avoided conviction after a 12-member jury was unable to reach a verdict.

In contrast to the muted suits she wore during the first trial, Gill Pratt walked into the federal courthouse Monday in a magenta dress and matching jacket, with conservative pearl jewelry and several bags draped from her arms.

A pool of 90 jurors have been brought in for questioning, in an attempt to seat a second panel to decide Gill Pratt's fate.

After Lemelle explained the voir dire process, he began asking the jurors several questions, including whether they know or are related to any of the law enforcement officials involved in the case. It is possible, but unlikely, that a jury will be seated today.

Gill Pratt, who served for years as a state representative then city council member, avoided conviction in February after a 12-member jury was unable to reach a verdict after deliberating for more than 30 hours over five days.

A juror who spoke on condition of anonymity said 11 jurors were ready to convict Gill Pratt almost immediately, but one refused to budge.

Lemelle said he will conduct the trial from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., but has yet to announce whether he will allow jurors to take Fridays off, like he did the last go round. The trial is expected to last 2 to 3 weeks, he said.